Comelec to losing bets: No extension of deadline for Soces filing

MANILA, Philippines – The deadline on the filing of statement of contributions and expenditures (Soces) for losing candidates will not be extended, an official from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned on Thursday.

Comelec Campaign Finance Office Head Atty. Efraim Bag-id issued this warning after records from his office revealed that only 19 senatorial bets have filed their Soces as of 3:00 p.m.

“Wala pong inilalabas ang commission [na advisory on the extension of filing]. Hanggang 8 p.m. po tayo,” Bag-id said in an interview when asked on the possibility of extending the filing deadline.

Bag-id said winners in the midterm polls may file their Soces even after six months from their proclamation date.

Winning senators and party-list representatives have already been formally proclaimed by the Comelec.

READ: 5 reelectionists, 4 new faces, 3 returning proclaimed senators

According to Bag-id, failure to submit Soces on time is punishable by an administrative fine that ranges from P6,000 to P10,000, depending on the position sought by the candidate in the elections.

Meanwhile, candidates who have failed to submit their Soces for two consecutive occasions is already a ground for perpetual disqualification from elections, Bag-id added.  (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)